3 things that will change the world today

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Tech Explained

The world of technology is full of jargon and complex topics, but we’re here to help. From buzzwords to hot topics, here you’ll find the key terms in tech explained in detail. These are Verdict’s in-depth guides to the concepts shaping the future of tech, including AI, cybersecurity and disruptive technologies, providing you with a detailed primer on the innovations in our digital world.

There was commerce, which was then disrupted by e-commerce, now ambient commerce is setting out to challenge e-commerce by combining the physical space associated with traditional retail with technology.

Quantum computers represent a radical departure from traditional digital computers in that, rather than relying on transistors, which can have a state of zero or one, they make use of quantum particles that can exist in multiple states between zero and one.

Blockchain technology often referred to as “distributed ledger technology” or DLT is a means by which the participants in a distributed network can each maintain a copy of an immutable ledger of transactions, and where transactions can be executed without the need for a single, central, coordinating authority.

Net neutrality refers to the concept that internet service providers (ISPs) should be neutral gateways to the internet rather than gatekeepers with the power to decide what content is available or what speeds that content is transmitted at.

Machine learning is artificial intelligence (AI) technology which allows machines to learn by using algorithms to interpret data from connected ‘things’ to predict outcomes and learn from successes and failures.

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a world where aircraft engines, fridges, thermostats and medical devices are connected to the internet with a view to automating more of our lives, saving energy or making industrial processes run more efficiently.